Pupils’ festive message goes global

THREE Mossend Primary pupils will literally spread the Christmas message all over the world this year - after designing cards to be sent by the company run by one of the school’s most successful former pupils.

Ron Hamilton, inventor of the world’s first daily disposable contact lens and owner of the Blantyre-based Daysoft lens manufacturer, started as a pupil at the school 65 years ago and has maintained a close link following a visit a few years ago to give a talk to pupils.

Each year Ron, who now lives in Uddingston, invites P7 pupils to visit his factory - but this year he decided to do something different and asked them to design the Christmas cards which Daysoft sends to its worldwide network of customers.

And so excited was Ron with the result of their efforts that he selected not one but three nativity scene designs.

The paintings chosen are the creative work of Amber Boyle (10), Megan Batty (10) and Kay McLees (11) and to add a personal touch each card will display their names and a Bible verse, one for each design.

The three pupils, along with enterprise teacher Jean Murray and Ron, then visited Glasgow firm Mackay & Inglis in Glasgow to see their cards rolling off the printing presses.

Director Jim McDougall and sales manager Cameron Taylor explained all the different steps involved in making the cards, from proofing, plate making, and actual printing to guillotining, creasing, folding and boxing.

The pupils were given some of the first production-run sheets together with the foil-plates used in the printing presses. And at a recent school assembly all 16 children who participated in the competition received a ‘thank you’ gift with special tokens being awarded to the three winners.

Ron said that around 60,000 cards bearing the pupils’ designs will be sent around the world to over 30 countries.

He said: “In addition to the UK, these cards designed by Amber, Megan and Kay, will be seen in homes across the US, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.

“We greatly enjoy the enterprise partnership with Mossend Primary and are thrilled at joining with the pupils in innovative projects such as this.

“We will all have something very special to remember for a long time about how Mossend Primary designs went around the world for Christmas 2012.”